======DNA Paper Model======


<WRAP right box>
**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
\\
**Categories:** {{$demo.categories}}
\\


**Alternative titles:** Paper DNA Activity
</WRAP>

====Summary====                   
{{$demo.summary}}



====Procedure====  
  - Cut out the provided paper templates of sugars, phosphates, and bases.  
  - Lay out all pieces before gluing or taping them together to ensure correct placement.  
  - Attach bases to sugars by matching dots, phosphates to sugars by matching squares, and phosphates to sugars by matching stars.  
  - Assemble bases into correct pairs (A with T, G with C) to form rungs of the ladder.  
  - Tape or glue the components into strands of DNA.  
  - Combine group strands into a longer class DNA molecule.  
  - [Optional] Twist the model into a helix and display it in the classroom.



====Links==== 
DNA Paper Cut Out Activity - Julian Buss: 
{{youtube>xDC6Vgij8Zg?}}\\

📄 DNA Paper Model Activity - Karen Mayes: [[https://smithsworldofscience.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/5/5/10557615/dna_model_parts_for_your_presentation.pdf]]\\

====Variations====
  * Create longer DNA strands by giving each group more bases, sugars, and phosphates.  
  * Assign groups to connect their strands into one continuous classroom DNA molecule.  
  * Use color-coded paper to highlight base-pair matching.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Scissors should be handled carefully.  
  * Glue and tape should be used responsibly to avoid mess or skin contact irritation.




====Questions to Consider====
  * What base does adenine pair with? (Thymine)  
  * What base does guanine pair with? (Cytosine)  
  * What is the shape of the DNA molecule? (Double helix or twisted ladder)  
  * What are the three components of a nucleotide? (Sugar, phosphate, nitrogen base)  
  * What is the sugar molecule in DNA called? (Deoxyribose)  
  * If one strand has the sequence AGCTCAG, what is the complementary strand? (TCGAGTC)  
  * If a DNA double helix has 45 cytosines in 100 base pairs, how many adenines are there? (55)